Automatic machine gun



C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25. 192;.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

I5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLlCATION FILED MAR. 25. 1921.

1,431,057. Patented Oct. 3,1922.

C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATXON FILED MAR. 25, 1921.

C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1921.

1,431,057. Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1921. 1,431,057. Patented 001;. 3,1922.

I5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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% vlllllll l C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION mzo MAH.25, 1921.

E1 is Patented Oct. 3, 1922 15 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

J'aZZZ'r WM V, c. SUTTER. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-25' 1921.

C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 192]. 1,431,057.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Nu mum I 22562242 mm- Q 9 ib hm h NR m wk 9 k N M c. SUTTEB. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 19 2].

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

15 SHEETSSHEET l0.

Iii

gigs C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25. I92I.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

I5 SHEETS-SHEET ll Al. E III a a N8 3 6 \N Q M m. m

C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 25. 1921.

E Z i14 Z1 C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. APPLICATiON mzn'munzs. 1921.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 13- C. SUTTER.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

' I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, I921.

Patented Oct. 3

5k um c SUTTEB. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1921.

'harles Sump %Mmm,

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

15 SHEETS-SHEET l5- Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

CHARLES SUT'IER, 0F SURESNES, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Application filed March 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Cinemas Sums, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Suresnes, Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of gas operated automatic firearms that can be either fired from the shoulder, with the soldier standing, or, using a muzzle support, it may be fired by the soldier in the recumbent position.

My invention is especially intended to provide certain novel features including the feed mechanism, the breech closing and locking device, and the firing regulator.

The invention also relates to means for closing all of the apertures to prevent the introduction of mud, water or dust to the mechanism during transport or operation, and to a muzzle support arrangement which folds up alongside of the barrel.

The invention is especially intended to reduce as far as possible the weight of the gun, to simplify the construction and operation of the parts, and to render the construction as rugged as practicable, so that the parts are less liable to get out of order.

My invention is especially intended to provide an improvement on the structure shown in the patent to L. V. Benet and H. A. Mercie, No. 1,125,937, granted January 26, 1913, and entitled Automatic shoulder rifle.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete weapon, showing the muzzle support therefor, and the soldier lying down, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of the piece shown in Fig. 1, the stock being cut away.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the central portion of the piece shown in Figure 1, but with the muzzle support swung up to the position in which the piece is normally carrie Figure 4 is a similar View to Fig. 3, but shows the opposite side of the piece, and

Serial No. 455,701.

shows the muzzle support in the lowered or operative pos1t1on.

Figure 5 is a front view of the piece as seen from the muzzle, with the muzzle support in the lowered position, the same being an enlarged front view of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figures 6 and 6 show vertical longitudinal sections through the complete piece along the axis of the barrel, with the breech block in the closed position and the motor piston in the forward position, the parts being shown on a larger scale than in the preceding figures.

Figures 7 and 7 are similar views to Figs. 6 and 6, except that the breech block is shown in the open position ready for feeding a fresh cartridge case, and the motor piston is shown in the corresponding position.

Figures8 and 8 are similar views to Figs. 7 and 7 except that the breech block and the motor piston are in a slightly further rearward position than as shown in Figs. 7 and 7*, whereby a fresh feed strip may be inserted; the position shown in Figs. 8 and 8 being that assumed when the last cartridge of the old feed strip has been fired.

Figure 9 shows a transverse section through the piece along the broken line 99 of Fig. 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 shows a similar section along the line 10-10 of Fig. 6.

Figure 11 shows a similar section along the line 1111 of Fig. 6.

Figure 12 shows a similar section along the line 1212 of Fig. 6.

Figure 13 shows a section along the line 13-13 of Fig. 6

Figure 14 shows a section along the line 14-44 of Fi 6".

Figure 15 shows a section along the line 1515 of Fig. 6

Figure 16 shows a section along the line 16-16 of Fig. c

The views shown in Figures 9 to 16 should all be seen in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 17 is a top plan View of the breech block.

Figure 18 is an inverted plan view of the feed lever and the parts contiguous thereto.

:Figure 19 shows a section through the guard or casing containing the fire regulating mechanism, the trigger and other connected parts, the section being along the line 1919 of Fig. 20 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 20 is a plan View of the guard or casing shown in section in Fig. 19, with the parts contained therein as detached from the piece.

Figure 21 shows a section along the line 2121 of Fig. 20, and looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being shown in elevation; and

Figure 22 is a similar section to Fig. 21, parts being removed to showthe escapement arrangement.

The barrel A is fitted near the muzzle with a front sight carrier ring B, supporting the front sight I). The barrel is also provided near its middle with a vent or gas port a" connecting the bore a with port 0., drilled in the rest carrier ring G which is provided with the gas nozzle 0 in thecenter of the nozzle head 0 see Figs. 6 and 16. The perforation c is continued outwards, as at a", for facility of cleaning out the ports 0' and a, and the outer open ng is normally closed by a screw 0 which is preferably angular headed, as shown, for convenience of turning and removing. The rings B and C have a driving fit on the barrel A, and are secured by the pins 5 and 0 I The rest carrier ring is provided with trunnions c and 0 see Figs. 2 and 16, which arepreferably screw threaded as shown in Fig. 16, to engage the heads of the upper ends of the muzzle supporting legs T, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The enlarged breech end a of the barrel A is provided with screw threads a engaging in the front end of the receiver E; the direction of the screw threads being similar to that of the rifling, so that the barrel will not tend to unscrew under the reaction of the bullet engaging the rifiing of the barrel when the gun is fired.

The barrel is also provided with a recess a to engage a lug that Will be hereinafter described. I

A sloping recess a is rovided in the rear face of the barrel, see Fig. 6 to facilitate the entrance of the cartridge into the chamher a and a recess a is also provided for the extractor claw and head.

The receiver E is attached to the rear end of the barrel and forms a housing for most of the operating mechanism of the piece. The receiver is cut away at the forward portion of its top, as at e, to receive the feed block F and this open portion is closed by a lid G hinged at its forward end to the receiver, as at g, and at its rear end provided with a sprin catch 9 The rear si ht 1% is-mounted on the top of the lid, see ig. 6, and the feed lever P is mounted inside the lid, as will be hereinafter described, see Figs. 6 7 13 and 14.

The rear and lower faces of the receiver E are closedby the stock carrier I (see Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9). The stock carrier is proto support and guide the breech block K,

see 'Figs. 7, 8 and 14. These ribs are interrupted at e in front of the fermeture abutments 6, see Figs. 7 and 8?, which abutments are fitted in bosses e" in the receiver, as shown in Fig. 12; which abutments 6" are held in lace by pins e. The front'of the receiver E is threaded, as at e", to receive the barrel, and has an opening 6 for the passage of the motor piston J. It

is also provided with a recess to receive the hand guard U, which will be hereinafter described, see F 'igs. 6 7 and 8. i

The receiver is also provided'with a perforation e to receive the lug a (see Fig. 15), the function of which lug will be hereinafter described.

The right side of the receiver is provided with a rib e, see Figs 9 to 14, to guide the cocking piece L. The receiver is Slotted, as at 6 see Figs. 12 to 14, for the pamage of the-cocking stud l shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and also in section in Fig. 7. This cocking piece L is rovided with a handle Z and is guided by t e rib e of the receiver and the rib i of the stock carrier, as shown in Figs. 12 to 14. .At its rear end a spring stop (not shown) secures the cooking handle normally in its forward position while the piece is being fired.

The motor piston J is actuated by the alternate action of the powder gases, reaching the nozzle through the ports a, c and 0"", and the return spring a which is mounted in the stock, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The forward part of the motor piston is provided with a cup-shaped head j which engages the nozzle head 0 Into this cupped portion j the powder gases enter when the ullet has passed the gas port a and these powder gases drive the piston to the rear, as is well known in the art. The motor piston is preferably made hollow to reduce the weight, and is provided near its center with a central vertical slot 3' (see Figs. 6 8 and 15) to permit the passage of the ejected cartridge cases, as will be hereinafter described.

The rear portion of the motor piston J is squared on three sides, see F ig., 14, and is guided by the side walls of the receiver E and the upper face of the stock carrier I.

The motor piston is provided on its right recess is open to the front, and into which projects the cocking stud Z when the cockmg handle is pulled to the rear; but this stud is normally clear of this recess during the ordinary operation of firing the piece, that is when the cocking piece is in the forward position shown in Fig. 1, and thus this cocking stud does not interfere at all with the free movement of the motor piston except when it is desired to cock the piece by hand, 7 l

The motor piston J is provided on its lower side with the notches j and 7' (see Fig. 6 and with a recess j for the lever 1' which controls the segmental gear 1", as will be hereinafter described (see Fig. 8). On its upper side the motor piston is provided with the abutment j which drives the breech block K backwards and forwards, see Figs. 6 and 14, which abutment is provided with a socket j to engage the head of the firing pin M; the'firing being. effected by the forward movement of the firing pin under the control of the motor piston, there bein no firing spring of any kind.

The motor piston is also provided on its rear upper face with a lifting cam j, and with a recess 7' for the link D, see Figs. 6 and 13, which will be hereinafter more fully described. The rear face j of the motor 7 piston may strike the face i of the stock carrier (see Fig. 8), when the motor piston reaches the maximum limit of rearward travel, or in full recoil. The rear end of the motor piston has a socket j to engage the stem 1', see Fig. 8, which connects the piston with the cap 11/ of the return spring 11.. This return spring is contained in a tube 12 housed in'the stock N, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and this tube is brazed or otherwise secured in a projection i of the stock carrier I, which projection projects into the stock, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The outer end of the tube is provided with a head n into a which the screw it engages, which screw fastens the head '12, and with it the tube a to the stock, and the socket n for the screw head being covered by the shoulder plate n.

A spring stop n, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8, is ressed upwards by the coil spring n and projects into the lower forward portion of the tube a and prevents the guard n and the return spring n from. springing out of the tube 12. when the stock is removed from the receiver, as when stripping or assembling the parts of the n.

K represents the breech block w ich reciprocates in the receiver and is guided by ribs e on the receiver which engage in a groove k of the breech block, see Fig. 14.

The breech block is provided on its upper face with a cam groove, see Fig. 17, which groove is provided with a curved front portion k and a rear straight portion This cam g oove engages the lug p on the feed lever see Figs. 6 7 and 18. which rocks the feed lever P to the right or left as the breech block moves forwards or backwards, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cam groove is notched, as at is, see Fig. 17, to facilitate uiding the In 39 into said groove when dlosing the lid when the breech is closed. The roove k see Figs. 6 13, 14 and 17 permits t e breech block, in

its forward movement, to clear the ejector f. l

The breech block is provided with a lon itudinal perforation for the firing pin 4 It is also providedon its lower face with a recess forthe extractor k and extractor spring /c ,'see Figs. 6 and 8, the extractor being held in place by the hood k. The breech block is provided with a chamber k opening downwards, into which projects the tenon 7' of the motor piston, which tenon has a limited play in this chamber is, as shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 8. The forward face of this tenon engages the head m of the firing pin, and the firing pin M consequently has a slight reciprocating movement relative to the breech block.

The motor piston is connected at its rear with the link D, see Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 13, which controls the fermeture dog In, whose forward end is pivoted to the breech block, as at is. The function of this fermeture dog is to lock the breech block in the forward position when the breech block is in the closed and firing position.

The link D is secured to the fermeture dog 70 by means of the pivot pin of, passing through the side lugs [e of said dog, and

held in place by the sides of the receiver E.

The other end of the link D is connected to the motor piston by means of the pin (Z and this pin d passes through an elongated slot d in the link D, the reason for the elongation of the slot being hereinafter described. The cartridges are fed to the receiver by means of well known feed strips X, see Fig. 2, with the cartridges below the strip. The strip X is inserted by the operator in the feed block F, see Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 13 and 14. This feed block F is held in the slot e of the receiver E by means of the flanges f see Figs. 3, 4, 13 and 14, and by the lid G. Thus, the feed block may be readily removed when desired.

The feed block F is provided with the feed strip guides f and f, and is also provided with the wedge-shaped tongue f to tear loose the cartridges (see Fig. 14). It is also provided with the cartridge abutments f and f.

The ejector f is also rigidly attached to the feed block, as shown in Figs. 6, 13 and 14.

The feed block F is provided on its upper side with a recess f for the passage of the pawl g journaled on the hinge pin 9 of the lid G, see Figs. 6", 7 and 8 The openings for the passage of the feed strips are closed by two spring shutters, see Figs. 3, 4 and 13 and 14. One of these'shutters f on the right side is opened by hand before loading and is closed after firing. The other shutter f on the left side is automatically opened during firing by the advancing feed strip and is closed by a coil spring f", see Fig. 4.

e The "feed strip X is actuated by" the claw p of the feed lever P (see Figs. 6 7 8 and 14), which claw engages in one of the central openings w of the strip, see Fig. 2.

The feed lever P swings on the horizontal axis 7 see Figs. 6, 8 and 18, which'is journaled in the lugs 19, carried by the socket piece 2 which is journaled on the vertical gudgeon p and thus the feed lever has a limited rocking motion both in the vertical and in the horizontal plane. The socket piece 1) is secured within the lid G by two clips g and the clip 9 being secured to the lid and the clip 9 being held between the lid and two studs g, and pressed against the socket piece 29 by the spring of the lid catch, see Figs. 6, 8 and 18. The gudgeon p passes through the top of the lid and is held against it by the spring h of the rear sight when the latter is in place, see Figs. 6 and 8. The lug .p on the bottom of the feed lever P (see Figs. 6 and 18) is midway between the pin 79 and the claw 72 This lug engagtgs in the cam groove 10 on the breech block under pressure of the spring see Figs. 6 and 8, and engages in the front portion of the "cam groove when the breech'block is open.

The heel of the feed lever P is beveled as at 1), see Figs. 6 and 10, so that the lug p ma be in position, when the lid G is opene to engage the cam groove of the breech block K, either in the part 70 or k of said groove, and also when the lid is closed, this irrespective as to whether the breech is fully open or fully closed. This permits the lid to be closed irrespective of whether the breech block is in the forward or the rear position.

When the lid is open, the spring p presses the beveled heel 19 against the roller 9, see Figs. 8 and 10, which roller is carried on the end of the pin g of the catch 9 this causes the lug p to be moved to the extreme left, which is the position rearward.

The rear sight H is fixed to the lid G by means of two clips 72., see Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which clips enter the slots and are secured by the gudgeon p passing through the plate 71; of the rear sight frame, and

also through the lid G. The leaf spring 71. of the rear sight fits into a mortise 723, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8. This spring, in addition to its usual function of pressing the sight' Figs.'2 and 10, is cylindrical, which assures greater accuracy in the contact point with the profile sides h see. Figs. 1, 3 and 4,'

of the rear sight base, than is the case with W the usual slide hitherto employed.

The trigger and sear and the device pro-' ducing the rate of firing will now be described.

Referring especially to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 19 to 22, R represents a guard or casing in which most of the parts of the firing and regulating mechanism are mounted. This guard R is secured to the trigger and safety holder see Fig. 22, and these two parts are fixed to the stock carrier I by the nose 7- of the guard R and by the trigger pin 9 which passes through the hole 9, see Figs. 20 and 22. This trigger pin g is locked in place by its stud g, which stud engages in a groove 71 in the stock carrier, see Fig. 9, when the pin is turned by means of the lever g against the stop pin 7 see Fig. 4.

On this pin 9 are journaled the trigger Q and the sear S, see Figs. 20 and 21. The trigger Q has a finger piece 9 and notch 9 and a second or safety notch vIn this safety notch the nose of the safetylever g normally engages, see Figs. 19 and 21. The spring see Figs. 6, 20 and 21, presses the. head of the safety piece to the rear, causing the lower arm of said safety piece. to engage the shoulder 99*,see Figs. 6 and 22, of the trigger and safety holder 9 and at this time the arm 9 will engage the safety notch see Figs. 6 and 21, and the trigger cannot be moved unless, before pressing it with the finger, the safety lever g is drawn rearward. This is done by the hand which normally grasps the pistol grip 12 the safety lever and the trigger being both shown in the rearward position in Fig. 8.

The scar S connects the trigger Q with the segmental clutch gear 7*, shown in Figs. 6 7 8, and 19 to 21. The said sear S has a nose 8', an arm 8 and a stops which is pressed forward into the engaging position with the notch g of the trigger by the spring 9 see Flg. 21. Projecting transversely through the guard are the: three pins 7"", 7' and 0 see Figs. 19 to 21. The

pin 7', on which is pivoted the segmental 05 of the stock carrier, see Fig. 11, and be.

tween the stock carrier I and the guard R. The pin 0 on which is pivoted the motor piston lockin lever O, is held against beingremoved by the side walls of the slot 2" of the stock carrier I, as shown in Fig. 12.

The locking lever O for the motor piston is provided with a claw 0' adapted to engage the cooking notch j of the motor piston. This claw lsnormally pressed upwards by means of the spring 0 see Figs. 8 and 21, and the lever O is alsoprovided with a tail 0" for automatically controlling the action of the claw o, as will be hereinafter 15 described.

The segmental clutch gear 1" connects the sear S, actuated by the trigger Q, with the locking lever O. This segmental gear 1" has an escape notch 9", see Fig. 21, adapted to engage the arm 8 of the sear S. It also has a notch 1* which is adapted at another instant to engage the arm 8 see Fig. 8. This member 1" has two laterally projecting shoulders '1" and 1', between which projects the control lever 1- which is pivoted on" the pin 7*", see Fig. 21. The lever r is normally pressed against the shoulder 1" by means of the spring 1*. The: member r is provided with a cam face 1', see Figs. 19 and 21, which actuates the tail 0* of the locking lever O.

The helical spring 1, see Figs. 6, 7 8 and 19 to 21, is looped over the segmental member 1 and has its ends bearing on the shoulders q of the trigger holder 9 Looking from the right of the gun, this spring will tend to rotate the member r clockwise until the abutment 1' engages the ratchet 1 see Figs. 6, 7 8 and 21. The teeth on the segmental member 1 engage with those on the periphery of the ratchet 1. The ratchet 1- is provided with elongated teeth 1*, see Figs. 11 and 20, and also is provided with clutch teeth 7' which engage the corresponding clutch teeth 1" of the whirl 1'; the teeth 1' and r being normally pressed into engagement by the spring 1'" which is rigidly attached to or integral with the whirl 1". These teeth r and r are ordinary ratchet teeth, and are so shaped that the ratchet 1" will turn the whirl r when the lever 1' is rotated clockwise, but will not turn the whirl when the lever r is rotated anti-clockwise.

When the whirl is rotated, a slowing down or braking effect is secured, as itscircumferential teeth alternately engage and disengage the two teeth 1' of the vibrator r; the movement being similar to the escapement of a watch.

The weight and gravity center of this vibrator r are so calculated as to allow the whirl 1', and therefore the segmental member r, a predetermined low speed of rotation.

The stock N is fitted with a pistol grip n, and is fixed to the stock carrier I by the tube n and the bolt n.

A projection 2' on the boss i prevents the stock from turning on the tube n and the recess in the pistol grip allows the safety lever to be pressed back, see Fig. 8.

For convenience in firing lying down, the gun is provided with a muzzle support T, comprising two legs t, see Figs. 1 to 5, which legs are provided with heads .26 pivoted on the threaded trunnions c and c of the rest carrier ring C, to which heads the pivot bolts t are attached to which the legs t are hinged. Each of these legs is provided with a curved shoe t preferably provided with 'a rib t adapted to engage in the ground.

The two legs are spaced apart by means of the brace t which is hinged to one of the legs, as at t", and is provided at its other end with a hook'zfi which engages over the lug 22 on the opposite leg. When folded up out of use the hook t of the brace t engages the lug t on the same leg with its pivot 25 see Fig. 5.

The piece may be fired directly from the shoulder with the soldier either in the erect or in the kneeling position, or it may be fired with the soldier lying down with the stock pressed against the shoulder, as shown in Figure 1. When the gun is being carried, the muzzle support would ordinarily be folded back to the position shown in Figure 3. Owing to the width of the shoes, the legs do not sink unequally into the ground, although the latter may be quite soft, as the usual pointed ends of such muzzle supports do; the stability is much greater and traversing is very easy.

The ribs t of the shoes force the shoes to slide parallel to the vertical plane through the gun barrel. Owing to the sliding of the shoes on the ground instead of vibrating during fire, as with other machine guns, the machine rifle herein described recoils parallel to the ground when used with the muzzle rest and returns to the initial position without disturbing the aim. Thus, easy holding, good stability on any ground and accuracy of fire are secured.

The hand guard U, see Figs. 1 to 4, 6, 7 and 8*, is mounted beneath the barrel between the carrier ring C and the front end of the stock carrier I. This hand guard screens the front end of the motor piston during the operation of the piece. It is provided with a few openings u for the escape of spent gas. At its rear end the hand guard U is provided with a ring u see Fig. 15, which is provided with a lug u passing through the opening 6 in the receiver and into a notch a in the gun barrel A. This lug, therefore, prevents the gun barrel from turning in the receiver, under the influence of the bullet engaging the rifling. The lug 

